Gold-panner.



J. AQKIMBER.

sou) PANNERI APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. I917. 1,280,766. Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

A v Kimber J. A. KIMB'ERA GOLD PANNER. APPUCATION FILED 1AN.23.1917.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.l. A. KIMBER.

sow PANNER. APPLICATION F|LE|J MN. 23 19H.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- JOHN A. KIMBER, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

GOLD-PANNER.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed anuary 23, 1917. Serial No. 143,912. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. KIMBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Panners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same,

The invention relates to a gold panning machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical andefficient gold -panning machine of strong, durable and comparatlvely inexpensive construction capable of' separating by gravity the heavier particles of gold and other metal from the worthless material with which it is associated and adapted to operate equally as well on crushed ore as on placer gravel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a panning machine of this character which will save all the gold and values by gravity separation alone without the necessity of employing expensive machinery and chemicals at present resorted to to effect an entire separation of the gold from the worthless material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gold panning machine adapted to concentrate the gold or values recovered in a pocket adapted to enable the machine to'be emptied in a few minutes and to obtain the values in practically a favorable condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gold panningv machine capable of' handling large quantities of material and of recovering the values therefrom with less operating cost than heretofore.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction and, novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacri-, ficing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings- Figurel is a plan view partly in section of a gold panning machine constructed in accordance with this invention having its conveyerremoved, 4

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine, the conveyer being shown in elevation,

Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. lis a similar view taken substantially on theline 4- 1: of Fig. 2, I 1

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is adetail sectional view illustratingthe construction of the valve. a Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7.7 of Fig. 2. 1 r

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the barrel or casing illustrating the construction of the bottom thereof and the trough,

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the-bearings for the barrel or casing.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts' in the several figures of the drawings.

' In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the gold panning machine comprises in its construction, a barrel or casing 1 preferably of cylindrical form designed to be arranged in an inclined position and supported in suitable bearings 2 provided with anti-friction devices which may be inthe form of rollers or balls 2 and which are preferably'mounted upon a supporting frame 3.- The cylinder is equipped at its lower end with a head 4 preferably constructed of cast' steel and provided with an inner concaved face 5 and having an outer longitudinal extension 6 forming a stem and fitting against the buffer 7 mounted upon the frame 3. The bufier 7 is equipped with any suitable bearings for the reception.

of the lower or outer end of the shank or member 6. The barrel or casing in the operation of the machine is reciprocated longitudinally and is rotated or vibrated transversely on its axis. The longitudinal movement is eifected by means of a cam 10 but an eccentric or analogous means may be employed for moving thebarrel or casing longitudinally. The cam or eccentric 10 is mounted on a transverse driving shaft 11 which in practice is designed to be rotated approximately two hundred revolutions per minute. The lateral movement is effected by a cam or eccentric 12 mounted on a longitudinal shaft 13 located at one side of the Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

barrel or casing in spaced relation with the same and connected with the transverse driving shaft by bevel gears Hand 15. The cam or eccentric actuates a connecting rod 16 which is connected with the barrelor casingat the bottom thereof and when the shaft I rotary vibration but when a camflO is employed for moving the barrel or casing upi wardly, it will preferably be moved downwardly by means of a spring 17 suitably mounted on the frame 3 or other suitable support and receiving a projecting arm 18 of approximately L-shape having an attaching portion secured to the barrel or casing at the bottom thereof. The arm 18- extends downwardly and projects approximately in a horizontal direction into the coiled spring which is compressed byf'the upwardmovement of the barrel or casing. The cam and the eccentric are preferablyprovided witha throw of approximately an inch butas the panning machine may be constructed in various sizes for operating on diflerentkinds of material, the-throw of the cams or eccentrics will be proportioned to'the requirements. or casing may be such as to utilize gravity for returning'i-t after it is actuated by the cam.

The barrel or casing receives a screw conveyer consisting of a central longitudinal shaft 19 anda shaft flange 20. The shaft 19 is preferably constructed of tubular metal and the spiral fiange which may be mounted on the shaft in any desired manner preferably consists of portions 21 and 22 of different "pitch, the pitch being designed to be varied to suitthe character "of the material and the difference in the pitch serving to subject the material morethoroughly to the action of the machine in the sifting or separation ofthe values from the worthless material. The lower end23 of the shaft of the screw conveyor receives a central journal 24 of the head 1 and the journal 24Lslidably supports the lower end of the screw conveyer and is provided with a passage 25 communicating with the bearing 523 and adapted to enable the water to keep the bearing free of'dust and grit to prevent the same from cutting out the bearings whereby the durability of the machine is materially increased and the water which is discharged into the barrelor casing at the lower end of the machine is directed by the concave face 5 in the formof a shower upon the p the gearing or mechanism 'conveyer and the barrel or caslng may be 'liTOCllflBd or changed to suit the conditions Also the inclination of the barrel material delivered to the barrel or casing from a hopper 26. The bearing 23 is provided with opposite grooves 24 to provide outlets for the water, but these may be arranged in any other suitable manner. The

upperend of the shaft of the screw conveyer the bearing to receive the end thrust in event of the "lodgment of a stone against the -coiweyer or between the same and the barrel or casing in the upward movement thereof. Under such conditions the spring Wlll yield and-prevent-any breakage of the parts. The

upper end of the shaft of the conveyer is also'provided with a collar 30 located at the outer side of the bearing and adapted to limit the downward movement of the con- "v'eyer. The transverse and longitudinal shaft may be mounted in any desired manner and the main or driving shaft is equipped with "a pulley 31 for enablingthe machine to beconnected with suitable motive power but for actuatingthe surrounding the installation of a panning machine and the amount of power required for'the operation of the same. The shaft 13 "and the conveyer shafts are provided with "sprocket gears 32 and 33 for enabling the shafts to be connected by a sprocket chain.

The transverse shaft 11 is also equippedwi-th a crank arm 35 connected with and adapted "to actuate a plunger pump 36 but anyother form of pump may be employed and the said pump is connected with the passage 25 by suitable pipe connec'tions37 for supplying water to the machine. The hopper 26 is provided with a screen 38'and ithas suitable "flanges 39 extending downwardly and inwardly and forming guards or shields for preventing the water *within the hopper from splashing out of the same when the barrel or tated.

The barrel or casing is provided at its bottom with apertures-39 0f approximately V-shape arranged at intervals from the lower end of the barrel or casing to within a short distance of the upper end of the same. The barrel orcasing is also provided at its bottom with a longitudinal trough 40 mounted exteriorly of the barrel or casing and forming a chute for values and provided at the lower portion with an-enlargement 41 constituting aconcentrating or collecting casing is vibrated andpartially ro- 7 pocket.

In'the operation of the machine the material is carried upwardly by the action of the screw conveyer and in'the upward movement of the same it is sifted and the worthless material is floated 'andcarried upwardly while the heavier materials or values of greater specific gravity than the worthless material are sifted through the apertures in the bottom of the barrel or casing and are received in the longitudinal bottom hop per or chute and conducted by the same into the concentrating pocket or receptacle.

The pocket or receptacle is provided with a screw plug 4L1 in which is mounted a valve 42 and which is covered by a cap or closure 43 provided with a suitable lock 44: adapted to prevent access to the concentrating pocket by unauthorized persons. The trough or chute may be provided at intervals with clean out plugs and caps or closures so that the condition of the panning machine may be readily ascertained to prevent the machine from becoming choked or clogged.

The pocket for concentrating values may also be provided with a drain pipe 46 located at a suitable elevation to prevent any values from being drawn off with the water but the drain pipemay'lead to a suitable receptacle for collecting any material that might be carried through the drain pipe.

The tailings are discharged at the upper end of the barrel or easing into a suitable conveyer 47 and the barrel or casing is provided at the bottom adjacent to its upper end with a screen 48 having a mesh of suitable size for permitting the passage therethrough of black sand which is received within a conveyer 49. Suitable aprons 50 and 51 are provided at the lower end of the screen and at the upper end of the barrel or casing for-directing the material into the conveyers 4:7 and 49;

The barrel or casing is also equipped at the top with a pan 52 forming a clean up pan and adapted to utilize the motions of the barrel or casing for operating it.

In order to prevent the apertures of the bottom of the barrel or casing from becoming clogged with sand orother material the longitudinal hopper or trough 40 is equipped with agitators 53 which may consist of a plurality of aluminum tubes closed at their ends and adapted to be forced upwardly by the gold or black sand collecting in the longitudinal trough or hopper. Four aluminum tubes are preferably employed but the number may be varied according to the size of the panning machine and various other agitators such as chains or the like of a length less than the longitudinal trough or hopper may be employed. The motion of the barrel or casing will maintain the agitators upon the top of the material collected, and they will be-forced up against the outside of the barrel or casing directly beneath the apertures thereby keeping these apertures open at all times while the machine is in motion and preventing the fine sand from packing. The movable agitators are preferably approximately an inch shorter than the hopper or trough but they may vary in'length as well as in the. material of which they are constructed. By keeping the material in the hopper it will enable the water and material to respond to the oscillatory and vibratory movement of the barrel or casing. This will enable gravity to operate with the least possible resistance and particles of gold and other precious metals will gradually work to the lowest part of themachine andcollect in a. position that will enable them to be readily recovered and removed from the machine in a few minutes.

In practice the barrel or casing, the shafting and other mechanism will be arranged within a frame 3 of sufiicient trength to re duce vibration and hold the machine in place and connected to the said frame 3 is a platform 55 suitably arranged to cover the entire machine around the inlet or feed hopper. This platform or cover is designed to prevent gravel or sand from coming in contact with any of the bearings- The machine may be used with or without mercury as a collecting agency in the barrel and in practice a plurality of the machines willbe operated in a row one ahead of the other and each succeeding one smaller so that the concentrates are collected in the first and reconcentrated in eaclrof the succeeding machines. The material delivered to the machine through the hopper is disintegrated by the hower resulting from discharging the water from .the pump upon the concave inner face of the head of the barrel or casing.

The conveyer is tapered toward its lower end and is equipped at intervals between the spiral flanges with mixing pins constituting agitatorv arm 56 for assisting in mixing and disintegrating .the material and causing the same to be thoroughly subjected to the action of the water and the motions of the machine in separating the worthless material from the values. As the materials from which the values are separated are caused to travel up an inclined path and are sifted and agitated and subjected to the action of water during uch upward travel or passage it will be clear that all of the gold or other values will be completely separated from the worthless material Without the employment of expensive machinery ordinarily employed for effecting a complete separation of the values and that the material or values obtained by. the panning machine, without the use of mercury are in a favorable condition and that the panning or cleaning up of the material is effected by the movements of the barrel or casing.

What is claimed is 15A panning machine of the class described including an inclined barrel. a screw conveyer operating within the barrel, the

latter being provided at the bottom with apertures, means for imparting a rotary motion to the screw conveyer,-and' meansfor imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to the barrel and: means for simultaneously imparting a reverse rotary vibratory movement to the said barrel.

2. A panning machine of the class described: including an inclined barrel, a screw conveyer operating within the barrel, the

latter being provided at the bottom with apertures, means for imparting a rotary mo- 131011130 the screw con-veyer, and meansfor imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to thebarrel and means for simultaneously imparting a reverse rotary vibrator movement to the said barrel, said movements of the barrel being independent of the screw conveyer.

3; A panning machine of the classdescribed including an inclined barrel provided at the bottom with apertures, means operating within the barrel for feeding the material along the same, a longitudinal trough located beneath the barrel and carried by the same: and adapted to receive the values separated from the worthless material and movable agitators located within the trough and arranged to be carried upwardly by the recovered values and adapted to: prevent the apertures of thebarrel from becoming clogged.

4:. A panning machine of the class described including an inclined barrel pro- 'vided at the bottom with apertures, means operating within the barrel for feeding the material along the same, a longitudinal trough located beneath the barrel and carried by the same and adapted to receive the values separated from the worthless material and a plurality of longitudinal agitator members of les specific gravity than the values recovered from the worthless material.

5. A panning machine of the class described'including an inclined barrel provided at the bottom with apertures, means for vibrating the barrel to separate the ma terial, a head arranged at the lower end of the barrel and having a concave face and provided with a water passage, said Water passage being adapted to direct the water against the concave face whereby the water will be thrown back in a shower-to disintegrate the material, and a hopper mounted on the barrel for feeding material to the lower end of the same.

6. A panning machine of the class described including an inclined barrel, a screw conveyer operating within the barrel, said barrel being provided at the bottom with apertures, means for imparting a rotary motion to the screw conveyer, means for imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to the barrel, v.means for simultaneously imparting a reverse rotary vibratory movement to the barrel, a longitudinal trough located beneath: the barrel and carried thereby, said trough: adapted to receive the values: separated from worthless material, movable agitators located within said trough and ar ranged to be carried upwardly by the recovered values toprevent the apertures in the barrel from becoming clogged.

7. A panning machine of the class described including an inclined barrel, means operating within the barrel for causing materials to travel upwardly along the same, said barrel being provided at the bottomwith apertures, means for imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to the barrel, means for simultaneously imparting a rotary vibratory movement to the barrel, a longitudinal trough located beneath and carried by said barrel and adapted to receive the values'separated from the worthless material, and movable agitators located within the trough and arranged to be carried upwardly by the recovered values to prevent the apertures'ofthe barrel from becoming clogged. 1

8. A panning machine of the class described including an inclined barrel, a screw conveyer operating: within the barrel, said barrelprovided with apertures at the bottom thereof, means for imparting rotary motion to the screw conveyer,-means for imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to the barrel, means for simultaneously imparting a reverse rotary vibrator movement to'the barrel, the said movement of the barrel being independent. of movement of the screw eonveyer, a longitudinal trough located beneath the barrel and carried thereby, said trough adapted to receive values separated from the worthless material, and movable agitators located within said trough and adapted to prevent the apertures of the barrel from becoming clogged.

9. A panning machine of the kind described including an inclined barrel provided with apertures, a conveyer operating within the barrel, and eccentricsconnected to the barrel for imparting a vibratory partial rotary movement to the barrel, a cam arranged to simultaneously move the barrel in a longitudinal direction, a longitudinal trough located beneath the barrel and carried thereby and adapted to receive values separated from the worthless material, and agitators located within the trough and adapted to prevent the clogging of the apertures in said barrel.

lOtA panning machine of the class described, including an inclined barrel provided at its bottom with apertures, means for agitating the barrel or casing to effect a separation of ma1terial, means for introducing water into the barrel, means for feeding the material along. the barrel, a longitudinal trough located beneath the barrel for receiving values separated from the worthless material, and agitators located within the trough and adapted to be moved upwardly to prevent the clogging of the apertures in said barrel. 7

11. A panning machine of the class described including an inclined barrel provided at the bottom with apertures, means for imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to the barrel, means for simultaneously imparting a rotary vibratory movement to the barrel, a head arranged at the lower end of the barrel and having a concave face provided with a water passage, said water passage adapted to direct water against said concave ,face whereby the water will be thrown back in a shower to disintegrate material within the barrel.

12. A panning machine of the class de scribed including an inclined barrel provided at the bottom with apertures, a screw conveyer operating within the barrel, means for imparting a rotary motion to the screw conveyor, means for imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to said barrel, means for simultaneously imparting a reverse rotary vibratory movement to the barrel, a head arranged at the lower end of the barrel and having a concave face provided with a water passage, said water passage being adapted to direct the water against the concave face whereby the water will be thrown back in a shower to disintegrate material within the barrel.

18. A panning machine of the class described including an inclined barrel provided at the bottom with apertures, a screw conveyer operating within the barrel, means for imparting a rotary motion to the screw conveyer, means for imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to said barrel, means for simultaneously imparting a reverse rocated beneath the barrel and adapted to receive the values separated from the worthless material, and movable agitators located in the trough to prevent clogging of the apertures in said barrel.

14. A panning machine of the class de- I scribed including an inclined barrel provided at the bottom with apertures, a screw conveyer operating within the barrel, means for imparting a rotary, motion to the screw conveyor, means for imparting a longitudinal vibratory movement to said barrel, means for simultaneously imparting a reverse rotary vibratory movement to the barrel, a head arranged at the lower end of the barrel and having a concave face provided with a water passage, said water passage being adapted .to direct the water against the concave face whereby the water will be thrown backin a shower to disintegrate'material within the barrel, a longitudinaltrough located beneath the barrel and adapted to receive the values separated from the worthless material, and movable agitators located in the trough to prevent clogging of the apertures in said barrel, and a hopper mounted on the barrel for feeding material to the lower end of the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

-JOHN A. KIMBER.

Witnesses:

W. T. AsHFoRD, T. R. SAwTELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. G. v 

